§ The Countess of Marasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether it is proper for a local authority to provide a service under Section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972 which it is the duty of a higher tier of local government to provide when the higher authority has declined to provide or fund that service.
The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (The Earl of Caithness)A local authority can provide such a service so long as the authority is satisfied that the expenditure is incurred in accordance with the provisions of that section. The position is different in Scotland.